NWS Midland/Odessa TXFW.W 0016May 17, 2026
Red Flag Warning: Sacramento Foothills and Guadalupe Mountains, Chaves County Plains, Eddy Plains and 6 more, NM and TX
The National Weather Service office in Midland/Odessa issued a red flag warning for Sacramento Foothills and Guadalupe Mountains, Chaves County Plains, Eddy Plains and 6 more in New Mexico, Texas, which was in force until 9:00 p.m. local time on May 17. It was the 16th red flag warning the NWS office in Midland/Odessa issued in 2026. New Mexico had 13 red flag warnings in May 2026, against 24 in an average May of 2008-2025 (New Mexico's red flag warnings by year).
ExpiredWarning
In force for 7.3 hours; it has expired. The agency may have replaced it with a new notice.
The notice
- Issued by
- National Weather Service, Midland/Odessa TX
- Area
- Sacramento Foothills and Guadalupe Mountains, Chaves County Plains, Eddy Plains and 6 more
- State
- New Mexico
- Level
- Warning
- Issued
- 1:45 p.m. CDT, May 17, 2026
- Expires
- 9:00 p.m. CDT, May 17, 2026
- CAP severity, certainty, urgency
- Severe, Likely, Expected
- VTEC event
- KMAF FW.W 0016
- Official source
- National Weather Service: the notice at its source
Source: National Weather Service: the notice at its source. AreaZine rebuilds this page from the agency's record; the agency's page is the one to act on. A U.S. Government work, in the public domain.
The notice as issued
...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 PM CDT /8 PM MDT/ THIS EVENING FOR 20 FOOT WINDS OF 20 MPH OR GREATER, RELATIVE HUMIDITY OF LESS THAN 15%, AND HIGH TO VERY HIGH FIRE DANGER FOR SOUTHEAST NEW MEXICO, THE GUADALUPE MOUNTAINS AND SURROUNDING FOOTHILLS AND PLAINS, AND THE NORTHWESTERN PERMIAN BASIN... ...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM NOON CDT /11 AM MDT/ TO 9 PM CDT /8 PM MDT/ SUNDAY FOR 20 FOOT WINDS OF 20 MPH OR GREATER, RELATIVE HUMIDITY OF LESS THAN 15%, AND HIGH TO VERY HIGH FIRE DANGER FOR SOUTHEAST NEW MEXICO, THE GUADALUPE MOUNTAINS AND SURROUNDING FOOTHILLS AND PLAINS, AND THE NORTHWESTERN PERMIAN BASIN... ...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM NOON CDT /11 AM MDT/ TO 9 PM CDT /8 PM MDT/ SUNDAY FOR 20 FOOT WINDS OF 20 MPH OR GREATER, RELATIVE HUMIDITY OF LESS THAN 15%, AND HIGH TO VERY HIGH FIRE DANGER FOR SOUTHEAST NEW MEXICO, THE GUADALUPE MOUNTAINS AND SURROUNDING FOOTHILLS AND PLAINS, AND THE NORTHWESTERN PERMIAN BASIN... The National Weather Service in Midland/Odessa has issued a Red Flag Warning for wind and low relative humidity, which is in effect from noon CDT /11 AM MDT/ to 9 PM CDT /8 PM MDT/ Monday. The Fire Weather Watch is no longer in effect. * WINDS...Southwest 20 to 30 mph with gusts up to 40 mph. * RELATIVE HUMIDITY...As low as 5 percent. * RFTI...5 to 8 or critical to extreme. * IMPACTS... * SEVERITY... FUELS (ERC)...90th+ percentile...5 (out of 5). WEATHER...Elevated...1 (out of 5). FIRE ENVIRONMENT...6 (out of 10).
What the agency told people to do
A Red Flag Warning means that critical fire weather conditions are either occurring now or will shortly. A combination of strong winds, low relative humidity and warm temperatures will increase potential for fire growth.
Source: National Weather Service: the notice at its source. The text is the agency's, unedited. A U.S. Government work, in the public domain.